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Where does your future lead?

It’s time to find out what colleges can offer you for the perfect career opportunity

If the arrival of the Do Your Job mantra wasn’t enough, the transformation of Lions players into say-nothing robots proves what many suspected would happen — new coach Matt Patricia has brought the Patriot Way to Detroit.

As explained by Robert Klemko of SI.com, Lions cornerback Darius Slay flatly refused to talk about his team.

He already done warned us man! Slay said. They’re strict.

Whoever emerges from the ongoing quarterback battle between redshirt freshman Tristan Gebbia and true freshman Adrian Martinez will need a reliable target to connect with while settling into new head coach Scott Frost’s up-tempo offense. Morgan, a 6’1, 195-pound senior from New Orleans, fits the bill. Last season he set a program single-season record with 986 receiving yards and led all Big Ten wide receivers with 10 touchdown receptions. It would be a disappointment if he fails to eclipse either of those marks in his final college season.

Specifically, she asked if there was a play he wished he had over, other than the Minnesota Miracle, Stefon Diggs’ game-winning touchdown pass.

For someone who is really studying that game, there was a third-and-1 before we kicked that field goal [to go up 24-23], he replied, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune. We weren’t able to convert that third-and-1. We kicked a field goal with 20-some seconds left in the game. Had we been able to just get the one yard, we would have easily been able to run the clock down to 3 seconds and hopefully kick the field goal and not give the Vikings another possession.

So I would say that would be a play I beat myself up over, or we think about a lot and that mattered in that game a lot.

He also joked that he appreciated his daughter bringing that back up. And since it’s Monday morning and we’re in a good mood, we won’t even rail on the nepotism angle at the league’s own network, because it’s not like he hired her as an assistant coach on his staff or anything.

So Randy came to the sideline after that, and we always joked about how fast he was. And I asked him, So was that fifth gear? And he just looks at me without saying anything and flashes three fingers. Third gear. I’m like, dang.

Falcons rookie Ito Smith got his nickname from the judge of the O.J Simpson murder trial with a little help from his older cousin. Now Judge Lance Ito is wishing the football player well, reports ESPN.

After Smith was born on Sept. 11, 1995​, his four year-old cousin walked into the hospital room and said, That little baby looks just like the judge off TV.

For the third year in a row, Sports Illustrated has ranked the 100 best players in college football heading into the season.

We set out on the annual impossible task of projecting the 100 best players in college football ahead of the upcoming season. In constructing our rankings, the most important factor we assess is how significantly each player’s production will impact his team’s success this season—not how good he was last year, where he sat on 2017 statistical leaderboards or what type of NFL draft prospect he is (although those other things often have a way of lining up). Put another way, this list is forward-looking, but not too forward-looking. If you don’t see your team’s rising star on this list, check out our breakdown of this year’s toughest snubs before you head for our mentions.

The defending Super Bowl champions add pieces for the returning Carson Wentz, while both Dallas and Washington lack true No. 1 receiver options. Also, staying true to his form, Giants new GM Dave Gettleman upgraded the offensive line to protect Eli Manning for at least one more season.

This year, there are as many rookie running backs in beneficial fantasy spots as any season in recent memory. Seven backs were taken in the first two rounds of the draft, led by No. 4 overall pick Saquon Barkley. All seven, as well as a few others, could play significant roles in fantasy leagues this year.

Barkley is the lone rookie running back guaranteed to be a workhorse. If any rookie keeps the Elliott-Hunt streak alive, it will almost certainly be him. After him, though, there are nine rookie backs with a wide range of potential outcomes. In this installment of the SI.com player profile series, we look at those backs, giving each one a grade of in, out or neutral. In means we’re fully in at the draft-day price, and would possibly be willing to reach. Out means the opposite. Neutral means the price is fine, and whether we’d go for the player would depend on other factors, such as existing roster composition and possible discount. Players are listed in the order they were drafted.

My answer is Black Mass. I love the Whitey Bulger story and have read a few books on the Irish Mob in Boston. The Departed is really good too, as is The Town (the bank they crashed the armored car into is my old Laundromat in the North End). And Ted.

The NFL Players Association responded Tuesday by announcing it has filed a grievance against the league challenging the new rules. The union’s statement said the two sides will try to reach a solution before taking the next step to court.

I can’t emphasize enough the openness I plan to have in this organization. An openness in team team of this organization. I think there’s been an atmosphere where this organization wasn’t allowed to be a team. (People were) not able to go up and talk about things. There’s going to be no impediment to that in the future. Whatever that means and whatever that brings, that will bring. Whatever falls, that will fall.

This being one of the few places that doesn’t have new practice fields, obviously we’re in need. A lot of these things can’t be done independently. I can’t talk about practice fields without talking about new stadiums. The Carolina Panthers are both states, so we have to think about where we’re putting things. Winning is important; we can’t be less competitive than other NFL teams, and at this point, given our practice field and what other people have in the league, we’re falling behind a little bit. Top priority would be thinking about that practice field.

But injuries crept up on Montgomery last season, opening the door for rookies Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Jones got the first crack and looked great, rushing for 448 yards and four touchdowns on just 81 carries. But he too suffered an injury. Williams was next up, and though he didn’t dazzle like Jones, he proved a capable chain mover, totaling 556 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

In a complete shift from two years ago, the Packers now find themselves stable at running back, yet in need of another veteran wide receiver. They would be better served making Montgomery the third or fourth receiver than starving him for carries as the No. 3 running back.

Adams stepped up last season, hauling in 10 touchdowns despite having Brett Hundley under center. Cobb has regressed over the last couple seasons, and he battled an injury this offseason. Allison has potential, but he caught just 23 passes and zero touchdowns last season. He seems better suited as a fourth wide receiver.

The Packers opted to focus primarily on defense this offseason, selecting cornerbacks with their first two picks in the draft. They also signed defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson. It appears the defense is ready to contend for a Super Bowl.

Ove Johansson once kicked a ball 69 yards through the uprights for Abilene Christian.

Can Odell Beckham Jr. return to his record-setting ways?

The 1978 Patriots rushing record will never be broken.

Sometimes, you’re just unbelievably, spectacularly wrong. Sometimes, we all are. So let’s all go jump in a lake and collectively dunk on ourselves for what are some truly terrible sports predictions.

No, it started long before that, and it was in its heyday when Mike Nolan was the head coach and Mike Martz was the offensive coordinator.

Back in 2008, the 49ers signed Martz after a stint with the Detroit Lions, and Martz brought in O’Sullivan, who ostensibly knew the system. What followed was a sham of a quarterback battle against Alex Smith and Shaun Hill that O’Sullivan won solely because it wasn’t actually a battle at all. Martz, by that point, was more than set in his ways and was convinced he could keep doing the same exact thing regardless of the personnel and make it work. He could not.

But that didn’t stop me, in my first year of sports writing in any capacity, going all-in on O’Sullivan as a gunslinger who would not only get the job done, but make the Pro Bowl and take the 49ers deep into the playoffs. I went in hard on it, I believed firmly that this would happen. It did not.

Strahan has also had to deal with accusations that his record-breaking moment was a sham.

I just hate that it got caught up in the wash of the record-breaking sack, Strahan said on NFL Network in 2013. The sack record’s great — absolutely phenomenal, but I almost feel like in a sense it was diminished, because everyone goes, ‘Oh, Brett Favre gave you a sack.’ I caught so much flak over it. It’s not worth it, because everyone looks as if one sack that they question is the defining moment of my career.

I’ve always kind of taken it, but I always have to say, if you don’t like it, then break it.

With Case Keenum under center, perhaps the Denver defense will get to pin its ears back like it did earlier in Miller’s career. If it does, don’t be surprised to see Miller pushing his sack numbers back into the elite tier and maybe even the record-breaking stratosphere.

Arizona signed Kurt Warner to a cheap, one-year deal in 2005 and gave him a three-year extension after his first season. But he’s about to turn 35, and the Cardinals take Jay Cutler to be the team’s quarterback of the future.

Shazier attended a Pittsburgh Penguins playoff game and while standing, he led the fans in a Let’s go Pens cheer.

Shazier attended an NCAA tournament game in Pittsburgh.

During the NFL Combine, Shazier hopped on the phone with NFL Network’s Mike Mayock and Rich Eisen.

My end goal is to allow the Lord to let me come back and play at the high level that I was before, Shazier said. Every day I try to get better. I strive for the Hall of Fame and I was doing that through this year, the whole time I was playing. And I still do that while I’m doing rehab. I know it’s still a possibility. I have the Lord and he has my back and I constantly feel I’m going to come back and play football.

Defensive tackle Chris Baker joined a new team this offseason when he signed with the Bengals following his release from the Buccaneers, but there are familiar faces in Cincinnati.

Defensive line coach Jacob Burney and linebackers coach Jim Haslett were both in Washington with Baker from 2011-2014 and both men have fond memories of how Baker played during those years. Baker feels the same way and says the two men groomed me and really believed in me, which is why he feels confident he’ll rebound after a disappointing season in Tampa.

LOS ANGELES — The fastball reached 93 mph, the curveball came with appreciable depth and the slider looked sharp. Clayton Kershaw breezed through five innings against a dangerous Chicago Cubs lineup on Thursday afternoon, scattering four baserunners while giving up only one run.

Clayton Kershaw might be the Dodgers’ current king on the mound, but Sandy Koufax’s perfection is the stuff of legend.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ultimately lost 11-5, falling for only the 11th time in their past 38 games — but it appears they got their ace back.

Believe It, written with Joshua Cooley, tells Foles’ story of his career and the impact his faith has had in his life. It also touches on just how close Foles came to walking away from football before rejuvenating his career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016 and turning that into a Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP in relief of an injured Carson Wentz last season in Philadelphia.

Hey, how about the NFL? he said, via John Marshall of TalkingPointsMemo.com. Look, I don’t want to cause controversy. . . . But how about they pass this stupid thing. You don’t have to do this anymore. If you don’t respect the flag, or if you don’t like the country, or whatever it is. Just go into the locker room. . . . I think in many respects, that’s worse. Isn’t that worse than not standing? I think that’s worse. . . . I actually think in many ways it’s worse.

It is unclear at this point if an in-person meeting between James and the Cavs has been scheduled down the line. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported this week that James would not be seeking elaborate pitch meetings during the free-agency process.

James’ camp and the Cavaliers’ front office have maintained a dialogue since the season ended, sources said. Paul informed the Cavs on Friday morning that the four-time MVP would not opt in to the final year of his contract; he was scheduled to make $35.6 million in 2018-19.

A source familiar with the Cavs’ thinking said re-signing James is Cleveland’s Plan A, B and C when it comes to free agency.

Cleveland is already over the league’s projected $101 million salary cap, even without James’ contract, with the 10 guaranteed contracts already on the books. The Cavs’ $3.4 million qualifying offer to make Rodney Hood a restricted free agent, as first reported by Cleveland.com, would bring the total to 11 players.

The big lefty bounded off the mound to field Mookie Betts’ tapper and throw him out to end his outing. Slowed by knee problems in the past, a pumped-up Sabathia kept in motion and jogged to the dugout.

High-stepping right there, you mean? he said.

Betts and Andrew Benintendi hit consecutive doubles in the fifth for Boston’s run in the opener of a three-game series.

It’s important, Betts said. As long as we make it to the playoffs, anything can happen.

There would be many hoops. There would be much caution. But with LeBron James officially signing with the Lakers on Sunday night, the first full day of free agency, one name that arose as a potential teammate should sound familiar: former Heat star and LeBron sidekick Chris Bosh.

But a source told Sporting News that Bosh could petition the league again for a return to action, arguing that advances in blood-thinning medication make him less likely to have an on-court problem and that he’s willing to accept responsibility for any such incidents.

The Cubs said the heat index was 107. That’s a calculation of how hot it feels, with humidity factored in.

There was a short break in the sixth after Twins catcher Wilson drew a walk. A couple of cups of water were brought out for him to sip and douse himself to cool off. Wilson wound up scoring and was replaced with the score tied at nine.

I just couldn’t catch my breath,” he said. My heart was fluttering. I felt dizzy. Started getting a headache. Just couldn’t even hold a conversation in the dugout.”

Kepler also left early because of heat illness on an afternoon Cubs manager Joe Maddon described as the worst he has experienced during a major league game.

That was a pretty brutal day,” Maddon said. If you put that on AstroTurf, that would have been like the worst ever.”

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman missed all of the 2017 season after tearing his ACL in a preseason game. One of Tom Brady’s favorite targets, Edelman hauled in 98 passes for 1,106 yards and three touchdowns in ’16, and was eager to get back on the field this September.

Now it looks like his return will be delayed, but not by injury concerns. According to ESPN’s Field Yates and Adam Schefter, Edelman is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He is appealing the suspension. As recently as Tuesday, which was also the Patriots’ first day of mandatory minicamp, Edelman spoke about his recovery.

After that, it’s anyone’s guess.

Complicating matters are the Rangers, Blackhawks, Flyers, Senators and New York Islanders, all of whom own multiple first-round picks.

So that means when 37-year-old CC Sabathia holds the lowly Rays to little production, the Yankees have to step on their necks.

James Worthy was on both of those teams 1983 and 1989 but didn’t actually play in the first sweep because of injury.

So besides Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson and Cooper, the only other player to appear in two finals sweep losses was Wes Unseld with the Bullets in 1971 and 1975.

Golden State could hand James his second sweep loss Friday night. The Warriors lead this year’s NBA Finals 3-0.

Sideline reporter is one of those jobs that, if you think about, is just a cool profession. You’re on the sideline every NFL Sunday, you’ve got sources and you’re breaking stories. On top of all that, you get to develop a rapport with certain players. However, like any job of its nature, it has limited demand and a lot of interest.

It’s not all about what you see on the field. There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes work too. We meet with the home and away team Friday we meet with the home team, Saturday we meet with the away team and you’re usually meeting with the coach and the coordinators and then at least three or four players, Wolfson said of production meetings. She said that over time you learn who will be worth talking to.

For the past 10 months, a small bunk room and crammed kitchen below deck of a 70-foot ocean-racing yacht has served as a home for 20 people at a time.

The crew members of the Qingdao yacht share one bathroom and limited living space, but its all well worth it for a life-changing trip around the world.

A lot of the crew now have the competence, or the start of the competence, to make these massive crossings – really long crossings in dangerous and uncertain waters when nobody else does that, said Gregory Schey, 28. I mean, what an experience.

Schey, who lives in London, talked about the pleasant surprise he received when his ship docked in Jersey City.

The weather’s fantastic and the marina’s fantastic, Schey said. I’ve been walking up and down some of the other platoons and, they do say Americans are friendly, but I didn’t think it would be this friendly.

The 28-year-old serves as the onboard doctor for the Qingdao, which sails out of China. He’s been at sea for 335 days and has learned firsthand that the sailing isn’t necessarily the most difficult part of the competition.

Top wide receiver Davante Adams has scored 22 touchdowns the last two years and is coming off his first Pro Bowl season, but he’s yet to go over 1,000 yards four years into his career. Fellow projected starter Randall Cobb peaked in 2014, and his yards-per-game average has been sinking ever since. And with Jordy Nelson gone, they’ll need Geronimo Allison to play a major role in 2018, but that’s a lot to put on an undrafted third-year wideout who has played a limited role in his first two seasons.

No other receiver on the roster has significant NFL experience.

The Packers do deserve credit for bringing in tight end Jimmy Graham to help Rodgers in the red zone, but even Graham is beyond his prime entering his age-32 season. He made the Pro Bowl with 10 touchdown grabs last year in Seattle, but it wasn’t a good sign that he caught fewer than 60 percent of the passes thrown his way while averaging a career-low (by a mile) 9.1 yards per reception.

And while there’s a decent chance Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams or Ty Montgomery takes off this season in the backfield, the fact is there’s still a lot up in the air at the running back position because none of those guys grabbed the reins in 2017.